Vacuum-cup record-transporting device



Sept. 19, 1950 R. soMMA VACUUM CUP RECORD-TRANSPORTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 19, 1 946 Sept. 19, 1950 R. soMMA 2,523,157

VACUUM CUP RECORD-TRANSPORTING DEVICE Filed March 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @a6/224W a /Paymand ,50m/72a `recr s. e ttmatically,releasingy the'rec'ords ontothe turntable..

g Patented Sept. 19, 1950 Y OFFICE y i VACUUMeCUP'RECORD-TRANSPORTING DEVICE l Raymond Somma, Waterbury, Conn. application March 19, 194.6, serial No. 655,470

'A The" present inventio relates Iin general to 'phonographs andf in particular to improved ferent sizes and are `knownto'diner considerably in thickness. These factors are major problems, among others, inthe design and, operation of automatic mechanism `for effecting the transfer of records. One of the `more common types of transfer-means comprises two pairsl of pivoted ng'ers which are adaptedto support a-stack` of records at diametrically opposite points, and to drop the' records successively onto the turntable', the delivery being made by simultaneously withdrawing the lower supporting-fingers from beneath the bottom record and inserting the upper fingers between the bottom record Yand the record immediately abovetomomentarily support thelatter. Although used widely, it happens not infrequently that the upper fingers will fail to adjust'themselvesproperly to variations in thickness of l'fhef'reciords', and as a consequence will strike the edge offa record so" as to chip orbreak it;` or perhap'svr'elease *one edge of the record lonly,therebyfcausing ajam. v f

Anobje'ct of the present invention isthe yprodelivering rcords' safely `andwitl'iout the possibilitypfdamagefroni asupply source or record# magazine; tothe turntable of a phonograph. v

A further objectisitot provide automatic mech-A v s clam-1s.A (o1. 274-1) anism which operates vto,trans'port"records'from faniagaaine toi-afturntable without regard to the sizeorjthickn'ess'of successive records.l I

A, stil furtlnerv object is to Iprovide pneumatic:l

mea r' lstuiessiveely lifting and transporting rnimagazineto a" turntable and au- ;A,still further provide alrecordtranspQrting;y device embodying a vacuum .cup

and -avacuum cup-.releasingevalve assembly.

h-rthe 'aboveandotherobiects in view, as

will appearfftofthose skilled inthe art from the :presentadisclosure;L this'ginvention includes all featurescinfthefsaid-"disclosure which are novel i lifting-cam Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved recordtran'sporting device of this invention shown; by full lines in its normal position and'by broken lines in itsv transfer position including schematic mechanism for operating the transporting device;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the transporting device and operating mechanism shown` in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the vac# uum cup and valve assembly on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 issimilar to Fig. 3 but after the vacuum cup and valve assembly have been swung into transfer position and released a record onto the turntable;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the underside of the` vacuum cup and Valve assembly;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the top of the vacuum cup;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the underside of th valve; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the valve member.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate one exemplary embodiment of the invention, ,the record-transporting means comprises Ya vacuum cup and valve assembly indicated generallyv at I0v and mechanism for moving the vassembly through the record-transporting cycle.V The latter mechanism is shown schematically in Figs. l and 2 andcomprises a transfer-arm il on the outer end of which is mounted the vacuum cup and valve assembly IQ. The opposite end of the arm H is iixedly secured to the upper end of an elevating-shaft Yl2 which is freely mounted in a sleeve-bearing I3 for both vertical and rotational movement therein. The sleeve-bearing I3` `is shown as an integral part of a bracket l-l which mayjbe secured to, or an integral part of, 1the fra-me of the phonograph. Keyed tothe lower end of the shaft l2 below the sleeve I3 is a transversely-disposed crank-arm l5 having at its outer end' a substantially-vertical fixed-pin lli. The lower extremity of the shaft has a radius il which is adapted to ride on the periphery of -a i8 secured to `a horizontally-disposed shaft !9, the latter being driven from power source, not shown. i

A coil-spring 20 is carried on the lower end of the shaft I2 and is engaged between the lower shoulder ofthe sleeve i3 and the upper surface of the crank-arm I5 to continuously urge the radius I1 of the shaft down into engagement withthe periphery of the lifting-cam I8. rEhe conguration of the cam I8 is such that, as the cam rotates, the shaft will be elevated'abruptly, will remain in its elevated position for a .predetermined dwell period, and thereafter be abruptly lowered by the force of the loaded-spring 20.

Acting in conjunction with the elevating-cam I8 is mechanism for rotating the shaft I2 and the transfer-arm I I secured thereto. In the present embodiment the shaft-rotating means comprises a slide 2I mounted in substantially-horizontal fixed-ways 22, the slide being held in its normal retracted position by a coil tension-spring 23. The rear end of the slide is provided with a cam-roller 24 adapted to engage the periphery of a second cam 25. The forward end of the slide is provided with a short-slotted laterally-extending foot 26 adapted to receive the upright-pin i3 of the crank-arm I5. The configuration of the cam 2-5 is such that as it rotates, the springloaded slide ZI will first be advanced quickly to rotate the shaft I2 and transfer-arm II through an arc corresponding to the distance from the i.

record-magazine to the turntable of the phonograph and in the present embodiment comprising substantially ninety degrees. The slide 2| and the transfer-arm II will then be held stationary duringthe dwelll period of the cam, and therey after the slide and transfer-arm will be returned to their normal positions by the force of the tensioned spring 23.

To provide the proper motion for the transferarm II during the record-transporting cycle, the elevating-cam I8 is driven at substantially twice the speed of the rotating-cam 25. Thus as the cam I8 raises the shaft I2 and transfer-arm II, the cam rotates the arm II and continues the rotation of the arm while the latter is being held in its elevated position by the dwell period of the cam I8 until the arm finally reaches its extreme left hand position, as shown in Fig. 1. At the end of its dwell period the elevating-cam I8 releases the shaft I2 whereupon the transferarm immediately drops downwardly a predetermined distance as determined by the configuration of the cam I8 during which interval the cam 25 provide a dwell period to preclude rotation of the transfer-arm. The end of the dwell period of the cam 25 coincides substantially with the next lifting cycle of the cam I3, whereupon the transfer-arm II is lifted up and swung back and lowered to its original or normal position thereby completing the record-transporting cydle. It will be noted that when the transfer-arm II is in its normal position as shown in Fig. l, the elevatingcam I8 is out of engagement with the lower end of the shaft I2, the only support for the latter then being that provided by engagement of the vacuum cup and valve assembly IU with the top record of the stack of records in the magazine, the latter being indicated generally at 21. That is to say, Vin its normal position the transfer-arm II is adapted to drop down freely in its sleevebearing I3 so as to lower the vacuum cup and valve assembly Il] directly on top of the uppermost record in the magazine 21, but when swung counter-clockwise through the record-transporting larc to its extreme left hand position (Fig. 1), the vacuum cup and valve assembly I0 will be lowered down to within a predetermined distance from the top of the record-supporting and rotating turntable indicated generally at 23, as determined by engagement at the lower end 0f the elevating-shaft I2 with the cam I8.

The lifting or picking up of successive records from the magazine and their subsequent release onto the turntable, is accomplished automatically by the vacuum cup and valve assembly I0 carried on the end of the transfer-arm II.

Referring to Fig. 3, the vacuum cup and valve assembly I0 comprises in general a vacuum cup 29 and a valve 30. The vacuum cup 29 consists of an inverted saucer-shaped member 3I of rubber or a rubber-like material having a relativelythick central diskor base-.portion 32, and a gradually tapering-rim section 33, lthe periphery of which constitutes a thin beveled edge 34. A relatively-thick rubber flange 35 is formed integrally on the top of the saucer-shaped member circumscribing the centra'l diskor baseportion 32, the interior Wall of the flange being provided with an annular recess 3S. An aperture 31 is provided in the center of the baseportion 32 and is defined by walls 33 which comprise a downwardly-converging throat which extends below the underside of the base-portion 32 of the saucer-shaped member V3|. The upper and larger end of the central aperture 31 is circumscribed by an annular rib 39 semicircular in cross section and formed integrally on top of the baseportion 32. Located at circumferentially-equallyspaced points in the b-ase-portion 32 of the vacuum cup, are a plurality of relatively-small holes 49, four being shown in the vpresent embodiment (see Figs. 5 and 6) which are adapted to form air-passages between the upper and lower surfaces of the central diskor base-portion 32 of the Vacuum cup. Formed integrally at the lower end of the downwardly-converging walls 38 or throat of the central aperture, is an air-seal which in the present embodiment comprises an inverted saucer-shaped flange 4I. The latter is substantially one-third the diameter of the periphery 34 of the vacuum cup 29, and of relativelythin cross section, the periphery of the air-sealing flange 4I being -provided with a flat beveled edge 42 which lies in a plane of the bevel-edge 34 of the vacuum cup 29.

The valve 30 which is used in conjunction with the vacuum cup 29 comprises a light metal disk provided on its upper edge with a bevel 43 and on its lower edge with an annular rib 44 of semicircular cross section, the dimensions of which correspond substantially to those of the annular recess 35 in the rubber ange 35 of the vacuum cup, it being the function of the annular rib 44 to t securely within the annular recess of the rubber flange 35 to hold the valve 30 and the vacuum cup 29 in assembled relationship, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Y

The valve or metal disk 30 is provided on its upper` surface with a centrally-disposed upwardly- Vprojecting stud 45 threaded exteriorly as at 46,

so as to be screwed into a threadedaperture 41 in the outer end of the transfer-arm I I. The stud 45 has an axial aperture indicated generally at 48 which extends down through the disk 39 to the underside 49 thereof. A relatively-short apertured-boss 59 extends downwardly from the underside 49 ofthe disk 30 concentric with its axial aperture 48; and Vadjacent the outer rim of the disk 30 is anannular groove or recess 5I also formed on the underside 49 of the disk. As shown in Fig. 7, a plurality of small holes 52 are provided at substantially-equally-spaced points in the distal-recess 5I which communicate by corresponding passages 53 in the valve 39 with the axial aperture 48 of its stud 45. When the valve 33 is assembled to the vacuum cup as described above, the annular groove 5I of the disk 30 is disposed :substantially opposite Vthe holes 40 in the vbase-of the suctionv cup, andin this manner affcontinuou's'air-passage isgprovided from the v undersideofthe vacuum cup2-9 lto the interior of the "apertured-stu'd '45. The `axial aperture 48 isshownf-provided atY its upperlend with a threaded "counterb'ore 54badapted-to receive an exteriorly 'threaded screw-plug'755. The lower end of the aperture "451s reduced in diameter by successive concentricA Vconstrictions 456 and 51 respectively, ltheupper'constriction 56 forrningwith `the lower end of the aperture l48 rajshoulder v58 which is 'the aperture 48 at apoint-'thereinabove the Valve- Supported within the: aperture v48 of the stud,

is :ayalve-member 60 (see Figs. 3, 4 and `8) havlin'g-acup-shaped' head-portion 6l adapted to re- -ceive the-lower yend of larsuitable coil-spring 62 and provided with Ia frusto-conicalshoulder 63,

the angle of taper nof Vwhich-"corresponds to the slope offftheibeveledV valve-seat 59 soY as to make a substantially'air-tight seal therewith. Extending 'below `the shoulder'G-B is a valve-stemt!! which is Yof vreduced `diameter "and substantially triangular 'incross section, the longitudinal intersecting 4'edges 65 of which are -substantially-cylindrical su-rfa'cesadapted to make a smooth running fit 'inf the lower constriction 51 of the aperture 48,

. `as shown in Fig. 7. A pin 66 of relatively-small diameter-extends below the lower end of the valvestem 64,)for `purposes hereinafter described. In iitsassembled position Vin thejapertured stud'45 of 'the valve; the frusto-conical shoulder 63 of 'thevalve-'member 60 is normally held down on the valve-seat 459 by the `forceof lthe compressed f coil-'spring 6'2, 'the latter being securely held in cthecup-portion 6I of "the`zvalve-member by the screw-plug`55. In the normal position of the valve-member 6l),` its cup-portion 6| effectively covers the `holes formed in the wall of the axial aperture 48 by the passages53, and the pin 66 extends wellbelow the underside of the disk and is Aadapted 'to-be engagedand pushed upwardly against the force of the compressed spring 62, seas-"to lift the conical-shou-lder 63 of the valve- --mem-berfoff ofthe valve-seat 59. When the valve =is so r4liftedfthe -holes in the wall of the axial aperture LA48 `formed by the passages 53, will be uncoveredfby the cup-portion 6 |of thevalve-member asshown clearly in Fig. 4, thus permittingair to 'pass upth-rough the axial aperture 48 of the valve-stud-45` `into the annular Yspace between the valve-seatSS and 'the frusto-conical shoulderl63; and from thence down through the passages 53 finto the space beneath the saucer-shaped section 35| of the vacuum cup toeiectively destroy a vacuum therein.

The above described record-transporting mech'- anismv visadapted to be used in conjunction with a record-magazine 2fi and turntable 28 of a phonograph. For the purpose of illustration, the rec'ord-magazine 21 may comprise a suitable well provided Vwithinlthe phonograph and adapted to receive a pluraliiyof records arranged in vsuperposed relationship and supported on resilient 6 means adaptedto feed fsucce'ssive records rupwardly-into position to fbeengagedbythe vacuum 'cup andvalve assembly |:0,asfshowninFigs. 2 and 3. In-this `confiectionitiwillbenoted that the record-'centering post/"61:o'f-the-lmagazine -(Fig`.3), is provided at fits upperend withanfaxialfrecess 68 ladaptedto receive the depending-pih-softhe valveso as'tol prevent displacement-'of l'thefvalvemember from its-seat `when thevacuumcupfis brought down onto the-topf recordiini the :maga-l zine,'in the manner describedlabove. Thus,.as the vacuum cupi-2.9 movesA down onto-theftop record, the air-sealing vflange 4I o'f 'fthe cup `Icr- -cumscribes the central-aperture of the record and, in conjunction-with the annular rubber-'rib 39 `rwhich tightly engages-*the underside of thevalveelement-'30, effectively sealsoff thevacuum cup 2.9 frornua'i'rewhich might enter -i'fhrojl-igh :the central aperture'- of the record. Thus'` af vacuum@ is :created beneath the saucer-,shapedrim-section 33 of the vacuum cup whichfsuiices-ito 'lift the-top `record vup-outof the magazine as the Atransferarm 'moves upwardly. When the'trans'fer-arm H has carried the `vacuum cup and the record which is adhering thereto over yto the turntable 28, the arm l I will be moved downwardlyin 'the manner ldescribed'above, and asthev vacuumr cup and yvalve assembly approach the' vtop-ofthe turntable, the pin-676 of the valve strikes the top: of the Aturntable record-centering postiBIS-L Thereupon, 'the pin-65 'willi be -n'iovedfiipwardly,` thereby lifting the valve -member lin-01T of its seat'and permitting air to pass up intov thepassages 53- and'bre'ak the vacuum, whereupon the recordidrops down immediately `onto `the turntable. V'The' transfer-arm then returns `to its normal position carrying-the Ivacuum-cup and valve assembly :back for engagement with the -next succeeding record in "the magazine. By Aproperly 4regulating-the speed of rotation of the lcam-shafts, the time required for satisfactorily transporting a record fronifthe-magazine to the turntable may be offtheorder of `two to two-and one-hal-fseconds, which'is anexceptionally and `unusual -IfastY rate of 'tra-lisier, r`and fone which is characterized nioreoverfby av safe and dexterous `handling of records, such fas 'to preclude any possibility vof :damage thereto irrespective oftheir size or thickness.

The-'invention may becarried out in other specific-ways than those herein seit forth without d'eparting from the spirit and essential characteristics 1of the invention, and the present embodiyments are, therefore; Ato be considered in all respects as illustrative and not-restrictive', Vandall changes coming withinthe meaning and equiv- "alency range-of the appended claims are :intended tobeem'braced therein. l reiaim: l 1. In an vautomatic V"phonograph, `the combination :with a record-magazine 'and ajturntable .for supporting vand rotating records, saidturntable Ihaving a centering-post; of means for transporting .a record from the magazine to the turntable 'comprising a record pick-up 'device constructed r 'and arranged to adhereto thetop surface/cfa record in said .magazine; a pick-up supporting Vmember arranged to move saidV pick-up device Yinto `engagement with 'the 'topmost record of said magazine and from said magazine to` a Yposition above said turntable; .and an adherence-controlling element associated with s aidlpi'ck-up 4device constructed and arranged to Lenga'geand to jbe .actuated by theeentering-Lpost rof said turntable when said pickup .device is .positioned above said turntable 'tobreak the adherencebetween said pick-up device and said record thereby to release the record engaged thereby onto said turntable.

2. In an automatic phonograph, the combination with a record-magazine and a turntable for supporting and rotating records, said turntable having a centering-post; of means for transporting a record from the magazine to the turntable comprising a vacuum -cup constructed and arranged to adhere to the top surface of a record in said magazine to pick up a record therefrom; a vacuum-cup supporting-member arranged to move said Vacuum cup into engagement with the topmost record of said magazine and from said magazine to a position above said turntable; and a vacuum controlling element carried by said vacuum cup constructed and arranged to engage and to be actuated by the centering-post of the turntable when said vacuum cup is positioned above the said turntable to break the vacuum of said cup thereby to release the record engaged thereby onto said turntable.

3. In an automatic phonograph, the combination with a record-magazine and a turntable for supporting and rotating records, said turntable having a centering-post; of means for transporting a recor-d from the magazine to the turntable comprising a vacuum cup and valve assembly said Vacuumfcup being arrangedito adhere to the top surface of a record in said magazine t lift up a record therefrom; a vacuum-Cup supportingtransfer-arm arranged to move said vacuum cup and valve assembly into engagement with the topmost record of said magazine and from said magazine to a position above said turntable; and a valve-member mounted in the valve assembly arranged to engage the centering-post of Said turntable when said pick-up device is positioned above said turntable toautomatically break the Vacuum of said cup thereby to release the record engaged thereby onto said turntable.

4. An automatic record-transporting device for phonographs having a record-magazine and a turntable provided with a centering-post, said device comprising a vacuum cup arranged to engage and to adhere to the topsurface only of a record concentric with the central aperture thereof to pick up and transport a record from said maga-zine to the turntable, said Vacuum cup having a central aperture, an upstanding flange concentric with said central aperture and circurnferentiallyspaced apertures at the base of and within the compass of said flange; a sealing-flange on the underside of said vacuum cup integral therewith and concentric with said central aperture arranged to engage said record to seal off said vacuum cup from the central aperture of said record; a valve-element constructed and arranged to be secured to said vacuum cup by engagement with said upstanding flange, said valve-element having an axial aperture and radially-disposed passagesconnecting said axial aperture with the circumferentially-spaced apertures of said vacuum cup; and a valve-member resiliently mounted in said axial aperture and arranged normally to close said axial aperture to seal olf said vacuum cup therefrom and to be actuated by engagement with said centering-post when said record is over said turntable to open said vacuum cup to said axial aperture so as tobreak the vacuum of said cup and release the record onto said turn-table.

5. An automatic record-transporting device for phonographs having a record-magazine and a turntable provided with a centering-post, said device comprising a rubber vacuum cup arranged t0 engage and to adhere to the top surface of a Lil) record concentric with the central aperture thereof to pick up and transport a record from said magazine t0 the turntable, said vacuum cup having a central aperture, an upstanding integral rubber flange provided with an annular recess concentric with said central aperture and circumferentially-spaced apertures at the base of and within the compass of said flange; a sealing ange on the underside of said vacuum cup integral therewith and concentric with said central aperture arranged to engage said record to seal ofi" said vacuum cup from the central aperture of said record; a valve-element having a rim-portion arranged to be engaged in the annular recess of said upstanding flange to secure said valve-element to said vacuum cup said valve-element hav ing an axial aperture provided with a valve-seat and radially-disposed passages connecting said axial aperture with the circumferentially-spaced apertures of said vacuum cup; a valve-member mounted in said axial aperture; and a coil-spring in said axial aperture arranged normally to hold said valve-member on said valve-seat to seal olf said Vacuum cup from said axial aperture said valve-member being arranged to be lifted from said valve seat by engagement with said centering-post when said record is over said turntable to open said vacuum cup to said axial aperture so as to break the Vacuum of said cup and release the record onto said turntable.

6. lin an automatic phonograph having a record-magazine and a turntable provided with a centering-post for supporting and rotating records; means for transporting a record from said magazine to said turntable comprising a vacuum cup and valve assembly, said vacuum cup being arranged t0 adhere to the top surface only of a record in said magazine to pick up a record therefrom; an arm; fastening-means arranged to rigidly secure said vacuum-cup to said arm; a pivotal-element arranged to support said arm; drive-means constructed and arranged to engage and elevate said pivotal-element to move said arm and said vacuum cup through a predetermined record-transporting cycle; and a valvemember mounted in the valve assembly constructed and arranged to be actuated by engagement with said centering-post when a record is opposite said turntable to break the vacuum of said cup thereby to release the record engaged thereby onto said turntable.

7. In an automatic phonograph, the combination with a record-magazine and a turntable for supporting and rotating records, said turntable having a centering-post; of means for transporting the record from the magazine to the turntable comprising a vacuum-cup and valve assembly, said vacuum-cup being arranged to adhere to the top surface of a record in said magazine to lift up a record therefrom; a vacuum-cup-supporting-and-transfer arm arranged to support said vacuum-cup and valve assembly; drivemeans arranged to move said transfer-arm through a predetermined record-transporting cycle such that said vacuum-cup and valve assembly is moved initially into engagement with the topmost record of said magazine and from thence to a position above said turntable; and a valve-member mounted in the valve assembly arranged to engage and to be actuated by the centering-post of said turntable when said vacuum-cup is positioned above the said turntable to break the vacuum of said vacuum-cup thereby to release the record engaged thereby onto said turntable. Y

`8. In an automatic phonograph, the combination with a record-magazine and a turntable for supporting and rotating records, said turntable having a centering-post; of means for transporting a record from the magazine to the turntable, said record-transporting means 'comprising a Vacuum-operated record-pickup device embodying an annular outer seal, a concentric inner seal and air-passages communicating between said outer and inner seals; a pickup-device supporting-member arranged to move said pickup-device into engagement with the topmost record of said `magazine and from said magazine to a position above the said turntable; and a Valve-element associated with saidpickup-deyice, said valveelement being arranged normally to close 01T the air-passages communicating between said outer and inner seals so as to provide a vacuum therebetween for lifting a record, said valve-element being arranged to engage and to be displaced by the centering-post of said turntable when said pickup-device is positioned thereabove thereby `to open the air-passages communicating between Vsaid outer and inner seals so as to break said vacuum and thereby release the record supported by the pickup-device onto said turntable.

RAYMOND SOMMA.

REFERENCES CITED 

